People power wins the day against Telford plans for thousands of houses
People power looks set to have won the day - after Telford & Wrekin Council announced plans to cut back on the number of homes being built in the borough.
The authority had been criticised by residents for granting planning permission for too many large-scale housing developments, with some complaining it was leading to the gradual disappearance of the town's green spaces and beauty spots.
An agreement was put in place back in 2010 that 26,500 new homes were needed to serve the town's growing population between 2011 and 2031.
But proposals are now being put forward to cut that figure to below 16,000.
Council chiefs say more than 80 per cent of that figure is already in the bag, as either completed projects or embryonic developments with planning permission.
It means, if the move is backed by the authority's ruling cabinet at a meeting on Thursday, that just 230 additional homes a year would be required to meet the new quota up to 2031.
Councillor Richard Overton, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, said the plan would seek to reinforce a commitment to protect green spaces in the borough.
He said: "This is essential to ensure that future housing and employment development in the borough is clear and measured and utilises brownfield sites where possible.
"We have been clear that we thought the allocation of 26,500 in 2010 for Telford & Wrekin was too big for a borough of our size.
"It was this high number that is one of the key reasons why so many developers, encouraged by Government policy, have been putting in planning applications across our borough.
"We have worked hard over the past five years to drive this number down, reflecting the views and feedback from local people, first to 22,000 after the 2011 local elections and now to below 16,000.
"It should be remembered that the vast majority of these have already been built or have planning permission. We have now reduced the housing growth target by over 10,000 homes. That is a significant reduction.
"The plan will create a vision for the borough that goes beyond house building; it will seek to promote a healthier, more prosperous and even better connected place to live, providing a high quality of life for everyone."
Councillor Overton said that, subject to approval, it was proposed that an extended period of public consultation on the document would begin in August and run throughout September.
